Chaeles e



@uiten giants @anni @fitta CHARLES E. MITCHELL, CF vNEW BRITAIN, .i CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 65,107, dated .May 28, 1867. i

@In Suzanne maar tu in than tettcis jntmt ma making pmt nf tige time TO ALL WI-IOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Bo it known that I, CHARLES E. MITCHELL, of New Britain, county oHar-tf'ord, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain ,new and useful improvements in the Manufacture of Snap-Hooks, or as an attachment to be applied to snap-hooks already made; and to enable those skilled in the art teli-make and use the same, I will proceed to describe by referring to the drawings, in which the same-letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature ot mis attachment consists in providing a fasteningor locking device, and attaching it to the cross-bar of the loop-strap or to the strap itself, so vthat a ring or loop cannot enter the hook, except when the body 6i' the hook is turned back closely, or nearly so, to the strap to which it is secured, thus avoiding the absolute necessity of otherwise using a spring to actuatc or hold the latch closed, and at the same time render it impossible for the hook to become detached from a ring or-staplc into which it may be hooked, except when the body of the hook is again turned back against the strap.

The object of this invention is to cheapen the manufacture of snap-hooks and render them more reliable, ornamental, and useful. In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side view of a snap-hook new in common use having my improvement attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a section view of thc same.

Figures 3 and I show a modification of said fastening attachment particularly adapted for a snap-hook which has a ring-loop, showing also (by dotted lines) a bar over which a strap may be attached. Fig. 3 shows the fastening-ringturncd into position by means of which the latch is fastened. Fig. 4 shows the fasteningringturned into position by which the latch may be freely opened.

This form of the fastener is particularly adapted for a hook having a protuberance in the heel of the hook at that point, (or nearly so,) which the latch fulcrum-pin occupies. The latch also is provided with a depression .to correspond thereto, so that when the latch depression is placed upon said protuherance and the fastener-ring is secured in its place, I am enabled to produce a snap-hook without the use of a fulcrum-pin or spring to hold and keep it (the latch) in itsproper place.

A is a snap=hook; B is its latch; C is a strap-loop; D isa strap secured to said loop; E is a fastening attachment made in a true circular form, or nearly so, from its, centre or from the centre ofthe cross-bar F of the strap-loop E, which serves as a fulcrum therefor. Thisattachment is provided with a bearing or fasteningplate G. To this plate the circular fastener E is secured, and by the use of which said attachment is secured upon or between the lap of the strap D. It is also provided with a slit or curved opening by means of which it is brought to bear upon the cross-bar F, while the plate is closed up between the folds of the strap D. One-half of the diameter of this fastener is designed to be such as will just fill up the space between the centre of thc cross-bar F and the hub of the latch B, when it (the latch) is closed. Now it will be seen that while the hook and strap are in a straight line, or when said hook is at any angle or position with said strap, (except when the side of the hook is brought against the strap, or nearly so,) it is fastened firmly in a closed position. In other words, when the back or side of the hook is brought around against the side of the strap the heel of the latch will .be allowed to turn into the depression I-I, when the latch will be free to open and close without obstruction, and when again turned forward the'fastener acts upon the heel of the latch to rmly close it with the hook. There are various ways and styles in which this fastener maybe constructed, while the principle of closing and holding the latch firmly in a closed position with said latch will be the same. I do not therefore wish to be confined to this exact style or mode of construction.

I believe I have thus shown the nature, construction, advantage of this invention, so as to enable others skilled to make and use the same therefrom.

What I` claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A rigid pressure attachment E, or its equivalent, acting against the heel of the latch to firmly 'close it with the hook,substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHAS. E. MITCHELL. [L s] Witnesses:

T. W. STANLEY, Mnnnirr BnoNsoN. 

